The Federal Government has reaffirmed plans to comprehensively map Nigeria for expanded gas distribution networks while intensifying calls for increased refinery capacity to position the country as a major exporter of petroleum products.
The Authority Chief Executive (ACE) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, disclosed this during the second and third days of his three-day official tour of oil and gas facilities in Rivers State, where he engaged operators across the midstream and downstream segments of the industry.
During Day Two of the tour, Mohammed said the Federal Government, through NMDPRA, is mapping the entire country to allocate Gas Distribution Licences (GDLs) and other distribution network franchises to drive gas penetration nationwide.
The exercise aims to ensure a systematic and orderly expansion of gas infrastructure with clearly defined technical and commercial franchises that meet industry and stakeholder expectations.
He explained that in areas without transmission pipelines, the government would deploy virtual gas distribution, particularly compressed natural gas (CNG), describing such operators as critical to the administration’s gas expansion strategy.
The NMDPRA chief emphasized that the authority’s visits to facilities were part of routine stakeholder engagement rather than compliance enforcement.
“We are not here to confirm whether operators are compliant or not. In fact, we wouldn’t be here if they were not compliant. Our presence already gives them time for compliance,” he said.